Boat ways

[hornblower]

Hello,

Not sure if I have this in the right forum, hope I do. I want to build a simple ways to slide a light, 12' aluminum boat into the water from the bank of my canal. I don't want to reinvent the wheel but could not find anything searching this forum or the web in general.

What I had in mind was two 4X4's about 12 or 16 feet long parallel to each other about 15 inches apart. One end on the bank hinged to a post, the other end extended into the water with a float. The float would be enough to keep it out of the water to prevent barnacles etc. accumulating on it but where stepping on it would submerge it enough to slide the bow of the boat on. From there a crank would haul the boat up to where the float would again surface.

I have seen similar slides that stay submerged. Can anyone direct me with the right terms to search this out, or give me advice?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat ways

have have seen many that were fixed, but never a floating end. would you want to keep the motor on it also/

 

[hornblower]

Re: Boat ways

Yes, I would prefer the motor to stay on. I assume i would need the skids to be long enough so the boat could slide to a balance point where the contraption is hinged.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Boat ways

We have people on the creek that have simply used a couple boards and anchored them down (somehow).
As an alternative, have you considered those ride on docks they have for PWC's?

 

[hornblower]

Re: Boat ways

Some more information,

The boat is aluminum, 12' and light. The motor is a 5hp 4 stroke Honda. The water is brackish salt water and in Florida where it will soon cover anything with barnacles. Thats why I want the thing to float to save having to slide the boat over crusty boards. And lastly, I want it inexpensive. Thanks,

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Boat ways

A guy at the dock last year had one of those jet ski pads. It was bigger than the typical pad. It was designed for the multiple passenger skidoo. It does exactly what your wanting. However, the guy said he paid close to $2,000 for it and the hardware to fasten it to the dock.

Trying to do what you want inexpensively will be tricky to say the least. Maybe find an old boat trailer, anchor the tongue to the bank. Put some floats on the back sides of the trailer. Use a water pump to fill the floats to lower the boat, and then to raise the boat, pump the water out. Good luck and welcome to iboats ..........SS

 

[waterman1971]

Re: Boat ways

Cradle two plastic 30 gallon drums on the outsde of your framework. Plumb in each drum bung with 3/4 pvc pipe and fittings. Use a small shop vac to add or remove air.

 

[angus63]

Re: Boat ways

Consider using the frame of an old bunk trailer. Some flotation on the tail and pivot the tongue. Winch her up high and dry after each use. Relatively cheap and easy.

 

[eaglejim]

Re: Boat ways

Up here on the lake I have seen folks plant the crank(concrete in) in the yard build two long bunks that extend out to the lake drive up as far as they can hook rope through bow eye crank it up out of the water and cover it up,to leave they unhook bow line slide in and load up and go

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat ways

take 2 pieces of 4 " PVC pipe jet them down in the creek, put of reinforcing bar in the pipes fill with concrete, a pulley at the top of both of them. with a winch lift the end of the frame.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Boat ways

Hello,

Not sure if I have this in the right forum, hope I do. I want to build a simple ways to slide a light, 12' aluminum boat into the water from the bank of my canal. I don't want to reinvent the wheel but could not find anything searching this forum or the web in general.

What I had in mind was two 4X4's about 12 or 16 feet long parallel to each other about 15 inches apart. One end on the bank hinged to a post, the other end extended into the water with a float. The float would be enough to keep it out of the water to prevent barnacles etc. accumulating on it but where stepping on it would submerge it enough to slide the bow of the boat on. From there a crank would haul the boat up to where the float would again surface.

I have seen similar slides that stay submerged. Can anyone direct me with the right terms to search this out, or give me advice?

I think you have an excellent plan, not overcomplicated basic and easy, I could see a couple barn door hinges doing the job. or better yet two opposed eyelid lag bolts, one in the end of the 4x and the other could be one of them corkscrew ones that you drill right into the ground like a a dog chain stake.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Boat ways

take 2 pieces of 4 " PVC pipe jet them down in the creek, put of reinforcing bar in the pipes fill with concrete, a pulley at the top of both of them. with a winch lift the end of the frame.

Tdaddy your drawing skills are improving I must say.
you and I both could use a tutorial maybe I should start a topic.

Neverthless it looks like a drawbridge-ramp very ingenious

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat ways

for me to have been a successful build contractor and designer, you would think i would get better, have have built homes with less drawings than that.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Boat ways

for me to have been a successful build contractor and designer, you would think i would get better, have have built homes with less drawings than that.

Uhu, see this is what you get when you combine mechanical engineer with the architect LOL.
Or rather this is why we need architects.

 

[grego]

Re: Boat ways

Look at your or your neighbor's mailbox. build a little larger "same setup". Concrete it in. buy a "come along", nose in boat tight to post,tie off nose and come along, aft above water. Should set you back about $50.00. imho Oh yeah, i have background in civil engineering. OH, forgot to mention an eye bolt